3-part
Thesis
Statement
Thesis Statements
 In
the simplest terms a thesis
statement is
A specific subject
+
A specific stance
All thesis statements must include
these two things.
Respond to the Prompt
 All
thesis statements must respond to the
prompt.
 What
is multiculturalism? Discuss some
implications of multiculturalism in
contemporary society.
Level one questions posed in the prompt
must have level one answers in the thesis
statement
Announce a specific topic
 Salman
Rushdie’s Haroun and the
Sea of Stories is a clear allegory for
Rushdie’s life at the time he wrote
the novel.
 The
book is a clear allegory for the
author’s life.
Include a Definite Statement
 “Some
people believe that Chris
McCandless is an American hero, while
others believe he isn’t.”
 “The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by
Mark Twain reinforces racist stereotypes.”
Key information
 When
working with only one or two texts,
the author and title of the work should
always be included in the introduction
paragraph.
 In
John Krakauer’s novel Into the Wild…
Adopt the appropriate scope
“Native
Americans have faced
many difficulties throughout the
history of the United States.”
Show Knowledge of the Topic

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
critiques the American dream in its
treatment of the excesses of prohibitionera 1920s, suburban New York City
commuter culture, and as seen through
the trajectory of Gatsby’s life.
Placement
 Where
should a thesis statement be
located?
One strategy: 3-part thesis
Specific Topic + Specific Stance
+ Supporting Argument A
+ Supporting Argument B
+ Supporting Argument C
3-part Thesis
 What
 What
are the strengths of this approach?
are the weaknesses of this
approach?
3-part thesis: examples
 For
example, if a student is writing a critical
essay on Herman Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor,
arguing that Billy is a one-dimensional
character, an effective thesis sentence
would be:
"In Herman Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor, Billy
is a one-dimensional character because he is
ignorant of cruelty, his goodness and purity
are manifest physically in his appearance,
and despite being a foundling, he is wellborn."
Some sample thesis statements:
literary analysis of poems
 In
"If you Were Coming in the Fall," Emily
Dickinson uses simile, diction, and syntax to
describe how people wait, hoping to fall in
love.
 Critics
classify Langston Hughes’s work into
poems of social and “racial protest” and
poems of racial affirmation” (DiYanni 522-523).
“Theme for English B,” however, does not nestle
neatly within either category, as it exudes a
more complicated tone of both pride and
frustration.
Thesis Statement Checklist
 Does
your thesis statement respond directly to the
prompt?
 Does your thesis contain a definite statement?
 Does your thesis show you have knowledge about
your topic?
 Is your statement appropriate in scope (not too
broad or too narrow)?
 Does your thesis list the key points to be discussed in
your essay?
 Can you provide evidence to back up your thesis?
Practice: Choose 3 of the following prompts & write
a well-constructed thesis statement.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Should American students be required to learn a second
language? Why or why not? OR Should high school students
be required to take physical education courses? Why or why
not?
Are high schools adequately meeting the needs of their
students? Explain your position using specific examples from
your observation and experience.
Do Americans seem unable to relax in their leisure time?
Explain your position using specific examples from your
observation and experience.
What do you consider the most important event of the past
decade? Why?
"Human rights" is a term frequently used but seldom defined.
Discuss what rights should belong to every human being.
If you were guaranteed a steadily improving standard of living
(in terms of buying power, free time, quality of goods and
services, etc.), would you be willing to give up your right to
vote? Explain.
Your thesis statements
Christopher McCandless is an
American Hero because he took the
risks nobody else would. He survived
off of the wild and challenged himself
to be independent. Christopher
McCandless should be recognized for
his heroism.
Your thesis statements
Christopher Johnson McCandless,
although argued by some to be an
American hero, is in fact not, because his
actions, did not really benefit anyone but
himself.
Your thesis statements
Chris McCandless is not a hero; he was
overconfident, and paid for it with his life,
but his determination to live life to the
fullest and pursue his dreams should be
admired.
Your thesis statements
An American hero is someone that shows
great bravery or patriotism or just embodies
what America represents. Christopher
McCandless is not an American hero just
because he dared himself to think about
the ethics about living in American society.
Your thesis statements
Is Christopher McCandless an American
hero? I don’t think so because he made
some stupid decisions on his way to Alaska
and right before he went into the wild.
Your thesis statements
A hero is someone who would risk their
well being for the safety or inspiration of
others. In the book Into the Wild by John
Krakauer Chris McCandless portrays the
definition of a hero and a role model.